Page 336 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

36 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

SO. The Germans.—There have been no visible signs of German coin-
mcrcial activity at Ahwaz or further north.
Precise information is not available regarding their progress at
Moliammcrah.
87. Messrs. As far <£• Co., of Basrah.—Razuki, the agent of this Company,
went bankrupt in August. This event had been long anticipated as also the
fact that he had made away with his principal’s money.
An enquiry under the auspices of Ilaji Rais fixed his liabilities to
Messrs. Asfar & Co. at £1,000, which he is to pay up gradually, but Messrs.
Asfar’s losses arc probably in reality much greater.
The Company is still represented at Ahwaz but appears to be doing no
business at present.
Razuki himself returned about the end of the year, and it is said that he
is starting business on his own account with a capital of some £8,000.
88. The French Mission Sciontifiquc cn Perse.—The members of the
French Scientific Mission made their appearance at Ahwaz cn route to
Shush, in December, a little earlier than usual. M. dc Morgan is not with
them having gone to Tehran, whence he proceeds to Shiraz with a view to
opening work at Persepolis, or in that neighbourhood.
From the statements of the other members it appears that at length the
attention of the French Government has fallen on the leisurely and expensive
way in which researches have been pursued in Persia under M. dc Morgan’s
management.
They have no good to say of dc Morgan, and, if anything, less still of
each other whom they variously represent to strangers as adventurers of
dubious rectitude and shady antecedents.
An expert has been sent out by the Louvre authorities, it is believed to
watch their interests and observe the others. This expert, M. Tascon,(?)
states that for some years only articles duplicating what already exist in
the museum and practically worthless have been sent home. He considers
Shush worked out and prophesies that work there is likely to be soon
discontinued.
89. Foreign Visitors.—Herr Mygind’s journey through the Bakhtiari
country to Ahwaz and Mohammerah has already been referred to in para­
graph 83.
The only other foreign visitor was a French Countess, name unknown,
who also travelled through the Bakhtiari country and visited Dizful, Shush
and Shushter in June.
She suffered some incivility from the children of Dizful and in trying
to resist it came into collision with a * fanatic Scyyid \
She left Shushter for Bchbahan on 21st June.
The Countess claimed descent from Napoleon and was an ardent
Monarchist.
Prrai&n 90. The Midn-ut-Tujjar.—In April, the Muin’s new boat for the upper
commercial
coucerni. Karun commenced running between Ahwaz and Shushtcr. It is a screw
steamer and this fact was found to give considerable trouble in low water,
and during the summer the “ Muawin ” frequently took several days over the
voyage, which has made it very unpopular with the native travelling public.
The boat is now in a very bad state of repair and constantly requires atten­
tion. Add to this that she is run with coal fuel, which is very expensive,
and only one conclusion can be admitted, that she must have been worked at a
heavy loss. ,
91. The experiment of putting a European in charge of the boat on tne
lower river was tried, and Mr. Thornburn, lately in the British. India Steam
Navigation Companyls service, accepted the post in the beginning of April.
The experiment however soon proved a failure. Mr. Thornburn did not
like his employers, nor apparently they him, and there was probably justice on
both sides.